text:
If you can still put a roof over your head and food on the table for your family, you should consider yourself to be very fortunate. There are millions of Americans out there right now that are really, really suffering. The cold, hard reality of it is that there aren't even close to enough jobs out there for everyone right now. It is almost as if we are all caught in a really bizarre game of musical chairs where the losers get stripped of their tickets to the middle class. What this horrible economy is doing to the dignity of millions of middle class Americans is incredibly saddening. There are a lot of very highly educated and very hard working Americans who cannot seem to get jobs no matter what they do and now find themselves doing whatever they can just to survive. It can be really hard to keep your dignity when you played by all the rules and you worked as hard as you could all your life and now you find yourself a half step away from being homeless. Those of us who are still doing okay should never look down on those who are struggling in this economy, because the truth is that any of us could be next.
If you really want to read some horror stories about what long-term unemployment is doing to some people in America, you should go spend an hour or two over at Unemployed-Friends some time. It is a great forum with a lot of great resources for the unemployed, but it also contains dozens and dozens and dozens of heartbreaking stories from middle class Americans who have had their lives shattered by this economic downturn.
The following is a typical story on Unemployed-Friends. It is from a 48 year old Air Force veteran who has lost everything and is now sleeping in his vehicle. It turns out that Scott48's job was shipped off to India and now he has been out of work for over two years….
"I am a 48 year old USAF Vet. I got my house in 1996 with the help of the VA. In 2009 the company I worked for went out of buisness(gone to India) I then became a 99er. I notified Wells Fargo that I lost my job and they said they would work with me, the next mortgage statement I got they conveniently increased my mortgage! With what I got from UE was enough for the house but I had to cut out the luxury of food, gas, utillities, insurance, entertainment and alcohol. That was it for me, so the forecloser ball was in motion. I had to give my dog to my cousin so he would get fed, I took everything I owened to the auction( execpt tools, clothes, pictures, tech manuals and my Saxophone) and sold it. I went to a half-way house the VA recomended for a week and it was joke, so my cousin said I could stay with her. After 4 months she diecided that I wasnt looking hard enough and kicked me out, and Ive applied for everything except selling myself. This summer I was staying in an abandoned house due to forecloser and the real estate company has now put it on the market, and I am now on the street sleeping in my vehicle or a friend here and there. Keeping clean is going to be a challenge cuz the Flying J truck stops charge $10 for a shower, rip-off. What a country!"
The truth is that this economy is driving many Americans to the brink of desperation. Even recent college graduates are becoming desperate enough to actually consider suicide. The following story is from an Unemployed-Friends user known as 08pacollegegrad….
"I could just take any job like working at fast food places, but I hear people who try can't even get hired there. I went to Wendy's for lunch the other day and I thought of picking up an application…but the slot where they keep the applications was completely empty. That should say it all. Plus, I feel like if I take just any job…I will be set back further and never be able to gain experience in my chosen fields.
I follow up on job applications, but employers ignore me for the most part when I try to contact them. I sent five follow up e-mails last week and got no responses. I contacted an employer expressing my interest in working for them, but all they gave me is the link to their online application system that I have never gotten a job from.
I am thinking of applying for more internships (I have already done two), but I don't want employers to think why I am applying for an internship when I should have had a full fledged job by now.
I have almost killed myself over my situaion and am taking anti-depressants right now. I see a psychiatrist every 4-6 weeks, but I still have days where I feel so empty. I am sick of sitting at home searching for jobs and praying for a response that never comes."
Many Americans spend day after day after day looking for a job that never comes. The sense of hopelessness that can build after doing this for a few years is almost indescribable. The following is another incredibly sad story from an Unemployed-Friends user known as feuxdejoie….
"I lost my job in June 2008, my husband was working but sentenced to prison for 4 years, for DUI, no accidents or injuries. I had been using my unemployment to pay bills but my last check came June 12, 2010. I'm alone and scared. The city that I live in has the highest unemployment in the State, Illinois. Our children are grown and I sit alone all day searching for jobs. My husband can only call once a month because of the outrageous rates for telephone calls. I'm at the end of my rope and don't know where to turn if they don't pass a tier V for unemployment or open up some jobs.
I turned 50 in April and had worked all of my life, starting at age 14 with a work permit! My employer stated to me that they needed someone bilingual and terminated me even after I told them that I would take classes to learn. I signed up for college and began classes in January then unemployment told me that I wasn't elgible for unemployment while attending school."
There are millions of Americans who believe that their lives are over because they can't get decent jobs. When you lose your job, your home, your car, your health insurance and then finally your unemployment insurance runs out, it is easy to lose all hope as an Unemployed-Friends user named Ember has done….
"so i feel pretty much hopeless. been unemployed since July 2008. in over two years i haven't even been called for an interview. tired of looking and applying for jobs outside of my field that require experience i don't have. it's all for naught. i have two bachelor of science degrees. my BS degrees, cuz that's what they're worth. since losing my job i've gotten divorced. lost my house. lost my health insurance. totalled my car and sustained chronic back pain. and moved in with my mom. and did i mention, when all this started i was a new mom, just back from maternity leave? so (now) i'm raising a toddler on my own, with no income. my unemployment insurance ran out a few weeks ago. i don't even know what to do now. i just want to disappear. i'm tired of trying. i'm tired of being a burden on everyone. if i didn't have the responsibility to take care of my child i wouldn't be around anymore."
This final example is from an Unemployed-Friends user identified as Faith1028. Be warned that this one will shake you to your core if you have any sensitivity at all. As you read this, keep in mind that this kind of thing is literally happening to millions of Americans these days….
"HI, y'all! This is my story. I'm from Chicago.
I lost my job 11.06.09 – I did my best to remain positive & confident that I would get a job by the end of November.
December 2009 – Still no job. I'm getting food stamps (LINK card) & Unemployment Benefits. Not much money at all, but I'm surviving. Thanks to all this stress, my stomach has been burning and/or been painful daily for all December. I puked my guts out on the 26th.
January 2010 – My stomach is still hurting every day. I had to close out my savings account. I haven't told my slumlord or my fellow tenants that I lost my job; I go on pretending I'm still going to work everyday. Unfortunately on the 26th, I got my eviction notice. I called the office to ask why. The response was "I don't know." I became hysterical. I've no job, no money, no family/friends to help. (I have many *relatives*, but no *family*.) I truly believed my only alternative was suicide. I wanted to say good-bye to my brother (my only sibling), but we haven't spoken to each other for over 4 years; I no longer have his address/phone number. I found him on Facebook. I didn't bring up my situation because I felt he wouldn't care. We exchanged a few messages and that was it. I haven't heard from him since. Good riddance.
February 2010 – Someone found a family that I can stay with for only $250/month! My own room! They turned out to be aquaintances of mine. Vegetarian, too! At least I have a place to stay. I'd rather live alone, but, hey, I'm desperate! — And I'm not too crazy about the bedbugs. OW!
June/July 2010 – Thanks to daily/nightly use of citrine crystals since 30 May, I have no more stomach problems!
Thanks to weekly use of a natural (green!) pesticide from PlusNaturalEnzymes.com, I no longer have a problem with bedbugs! However…
Mid-June, my Unemployment Benefits ran out. Of course, I'm still looking for a job! What am I supposed to do – put a gun to someone's head and force them to hire me? As of this date, I have $12 left to my name; $0 in my chequeing account. I recently reapplied for and am now receiving food stamps. Before I got my food stamps back, I've eaten whatever (Vegetarian!) food I can get, even stuff I'm allergic to. As a result, I've become sick: cold-like symptoms, pain in lower intestines…and a rash over my arms, legs, & neck. Oh, does it itch! At least my food allergies are not life-threatening.
Needless to say, my depression has gotten worse.
I am really trying hard to remain positive — and alive.
But why? Is it really all worth it?
I haven't paid July's rent, and the people I'm staying with are getting very *impatient*; I fear I'll be evicted again! The money is coming! It's not my bloody fault!
Someone on Twitter sent me a link to this site. I know I'm not the only one suffering; some folks have already committed suicide. I don't want to die, but I don't want to be homeless, either. I am so bloody scared.
Just give me money that my tax dollars paid for!
–Or better yet: GIVE ME A BLASTED JOB!!"
The really sad thing is that there are countless other stories just like these being posted all over the Internet all the time.
People are hurting.
People are losing hope.
So how did we get here?
Well, it turns out that the "haves" have figured out that they really don't need the "have nots" after all. Incredible advances in technology have increasingly enabled employers to replace humans with machines and computers. In addition, as we have detailed previously, millions upon millions of middle class American jobs are being shipped off to China and to dozens of third world nations where workers are more than happy to work for less than a tenth of what an American worker would make.
All of those jobs that have been lost to technology and that have been sent overseas are not going to come back. The hordes of long-term unemployed that we are seeing now is just the beginning. It is going to get a lot worse.
So the next time you hear a hard luck story from an unemployed American, don't look down on that person.
You might be next.


text:
There are several instances where travel specialists can travel free of charge, but typically they are doing emerge from their pocket. Here are three instances where travel specialists can accrue extra savings and set money-back to their pockets.
I'll share my savings experience like a home-based agent, that has caused me in order to save 100's of dollars!
Get Compensated on Retail or Purchase Prices
After I travel being an insider, I recieve compensated after i make travel arrangements personally (not to mention I recieve compensated after i get it done for other people). The cost I pay may be the just like any one that's not area of the industry, the main difference could be I recieve a cheque and also you don't! Commissions happen to be built-in to the cost of a specific item online or what your tour operator quote you already has got the commissions built-in. (they're never additionally to cost quoted, if you're told extra charges have to be put into cover commission… run)
Travel at Internet or Wholesale Prices
Now, basically choose that I wish to travel cheaper and forgo my commission, I still need to spend the money for internet cost, I simply wouldn't get compensated for that trip. You will get travel at great bargains should you travel by doing this!
But, I have to include that various agencies might have 'special' discounted journeys that agents may take on their own or target their customers but still earn a commission! I really like these since your getting compensated And also the rates could be better still than internet rate PLUS you've got a good deal you are able to offer for your clients. Only bad thing is that there might be a restriction on the number of can travel and limited to specific dates.
Travel around the Industries Cent
How about individuals really very inexpensive journeys? Yes, very inexpensive destinations are available and therefore are exclusive for travel specialists and therefore are typically referred to as FAM journeys or Familiarization journeys. These journeys tend to be more educational for travel specialists and educate agents concerning the property or destination experience they're visiting.
Vendors invite agents on these 'FAM' journeys to allow them to have more in-depth understanding to see their clientele. The aim would be to promote to obtain more bookings for individuals qualities or destinations. Prices of these journeys are this type of steal they may as well be free!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Last Thursday was full of surprises at Cambridge's Plough and Stars, as Australian singer/songwriter Richard Davies and one very lucky pick-up band were set to perform the music of Cardinal — the legendary duo whose 1994 homonymous LP was perhaps the most influential baroque-pop revival record of the 1990s. As the band got into their groove at the Plough, the dryly comical Davies was quick to point out that some of the songs were written just down the street, where Cardinal formed when Davies and West Coast multi-instrumentalist Eric Matthews crossed paths briefly in the early '90 (Davies has quietly called the South Shore home for the past several years).
Absent from the stage was Cardinal's chief arranger, Matthews, whose arrangements came via pre-recorded tracks on an iPod. These arrangements were then brought to life as the band of locals, including Corin Ashley on bass, played along despite having learned the songs just last week. A very brave drummer kept things together vis-à-vis a click-track and a pair of headphones.
Surprisingly though, this ad hoc set-up was not an issue, as Cardinal's rich, British-invasion influenced compositions came across with aplomb and no shortage of amazing harmonies. Highlights included "If You Believe in Christmas Trees," with its clever staccato vocal harmonies, and "You've Lost Me There," a song so beautiful that — even though I've not heard it in probably a decade — it crashed down on me with the shock of a recovered memory.
Davies and Matthews have also finally put out a follow-up record, 18 years in the later, called Hymns — so hopefully we will be seeing more of Davies around town.
For the openers, Shelterbelt got things started with a couple of great almost-covers (I heard traces of Dylan's "Never Say Goodbye" and Dr. John's "Such a Night" in their original material; if you're going to pillage, pillage well), and Happy Jawbone Family Band suggested the Peanuts gang set loose with a bunch of sunglasses and electric guitars. Well done, kids.
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text: How much ionizing radiation exposure do I receive naturally (also known as background radiation)?Naturally occurring sources of ionizing radiation include cosmic rays, radon, naturally occurring radioactive materials found in the ground (such as uranium) and in certain foods (such as bananas and brazil nuts). Since the origin of the earth, naturally occurring sources of radiation have continuously been a source of exposure to all life forms. There are certain places on earth where the average annual exposure to background is much higher than normal. In the U.S. the highest background radiation exposure are in states that have the greatest amounts of radioactive material in the ground and have higher exposure to cosmic radiation (such as Colorado). The lowest background radiation exposure is in states that are close to or below sea level without concentrated amounts of radioactive material in the ground (such as Florida).An interesting fact is that the highest incidence of cancer is found in the 7-9 states that have lowest amount of background radiation; while the lowest incidence of cancer is found in the 7-9 states that have the highest amount of background radiation.How does radiation exposure from medical imaging procedures compare with the amount of background radiation?Some medical imaging procedures have zero radiation exposure (such as ultrasound and MRI). Some medical imaging procedures have radiation exposure that is much less than the U.S. annual average (3.1 mSv). Examples include dental x-rays, conventional x-rays (such as extremities, chest and head), and screening mammography.Some medical imaging procedures have radiation exposure that is about the same amount as the U.S. annual average (3.1 mSv). Examples include head/brain CT, simple fluoroscopy procedures, and some nuclear medicine procedures (such as lung, kidney, liver, and brain scans). Some medical imaging procedures have radiation exposure that is more than the U.S. annual average (3.1 mSv). Examples include CT scans of chest, abdomen and pelvis, interventional (catheter based) angiography, PET/CT and some nuclear medicine procedures (such as heart perfusion scans).Is the millisievert (mSv) the best unit to measure a patient's radiation dose?Yes, the mSv is widely accepted as the most appropriate unit of dose when discussing risk of cancer due to radiation exposure from medical imaging procedures. This unit is also called the effective dose because it takes into account the different sensitivities of various organ systems to cancer. It allows us to describe the average risk to a patient from the medical imaging performed on different parts of the human body. It is comparable to the older unit of millirem (mrem) that was previously used for radiation doses in the US.What are the risks associated with medical imaging procedures that expose patients to radiation?Risks of medical imaging at effective doses below 50 mSv for single procedures or 100 mSv for multiple procedures over short time periods (such as annually) are too low to be detectable and may be nonexistent [1]. For radiation doses greater than 100 mSv, a slight increase risk of cancer has been proven scientifically. No other health risks are associated with radiation exposure from diagnostic imaging procedures in the low dose range (< 100 mSv). Examples of procedures are CT, PET, nuclear medicine, and fluoroscopy.For single procedures resulting in doses below 50 mSv or for multiple procedures over short time periods resulting in a total dose of 100 mSv , "predictions of hypothetical cancer risk in patient populations exposed to such low doses are highly speculative and should be discouraged [2]." Predictions at low doses used for typical medical imaging procedures may be more harmful than good. It may cause patients to refuse medical imaging procedures, placing them at substantial risk by not receiving the clinical benefits of the prescribed procedures.Because of the lack of scientifically proven data at doses less than 50 - 100 mSv, the call center and its associated web site do not provide patients with estimates of cancer risk from diagnostic medical imaging procedures.To obtain a calculated radiation dose estimate for a specific procedure, contact the facility that performed the procedure and ask for the radiation safety specialist.What are the risks associated with high radiation therapy doses?In medicine, high doses of radiation are often used to treat patients who have been diagnosed with certain types of cancer. At high doses, the radiation prevents the cancer cells from reproducing, which causes the tumor to shrink and sometimes disappear. This field of medicine is called radiation therapy or radiation oncology. A majority of cancer patients are treated with radiation therapy at some point during their disease. A radiation oncologist may use radiation to cure cancer or to relieve a cancer patient's pain. Examples include external beam, intensity modulated radiation therapy, image guided radiation therapy, high dose rate and low dose rate brachytherapy, radioactive implants, radioembolization, stereotactic radiosurgery, gamma knife, and proton beam.For information regarding the risks from high radiation dose or therapeutic doses of radiation, contact your physician directly.What is the risk to patients who have multiple CTs and/or other medical imaging procedures over the course of their lifetime?For radiation doses greater than 100 mSv, a slight increase risk of cancer later in life has been scientifically proven. When compared to the large cancer incidence rate in humans from all known causes, which is 25% to 33% (one in three to one in four), the number of predicted radiation induced cancers is very small.Although the odds of developing cancer from 50 - 100 mSv is very small, the risk increases the more radiation exposure you receive and the younger you are at the time of exposure.Because of the lack of scientifically proven data at doses less than 50 - 100 mSv, the call center and its associated web site do not provide patients with estimates of cancer risk from diagnostic medical imaging procedures.Patient specific radiation dose estimates can be calculated by a radiation safety specialist for patients that contact the facility that performed the procedure.Does the government regulate radiation exposure to patients?Regulations require that each mammography and CT machine is checked annually by a qualified medical physicist to ensure that the unit operates correctly and that the radiation output is within the regulated limits. The amount of radiation dose to patients is not regulated for most scans. This allows the radiation dose to be specific to each person's body habitus and results in the optimum image quality.Larger patients may need more output of x-rays to create a good image, but this does not necessarily mean they receive a larger dose.Should patients inquire if they have concerns over radiation exposure? What questions should they ask?Yes, ask about the benefits that will be gained from the procedure. If you have had multiple CTs in the past, inform your physician, and ask about alternative imaging modalities, such as MRI, ultrasound, or conventional radiography. If this involves your child, ask for a referral to a medical imaging facility that has a radiologist who is specially trained in pediatric radiology. When you arrive at the imaging facility, ask whether the technologists are registered (ARRT - American Registry of Radiological Technologists).If I have been treated with radiation for cancer in the past, or currently have cancer, then will medical imaging, such as CT, make it worse?No. Low dose radiation from medical imaging does not affect known cancer. Patients who have received radiation therapy are at no greater risk of getting cancer from medical imaging procedures than patients who have not received radiation therapy.If you are having frequent medical imaging procedures that are typically above 3 mSv each in any one year, or if you are changing health care providers, then it is a good idea to keep your own record and track your radiation dose in mSv. This could inform your doctor and help to maximize the benefit and minimize the risk to you from multiple CT scans.Is there a test that can show if you have had too much radiation?No, there is no means of testing for lifetime radiation exposure from medical imaging procedures.What is contrast or contrast material? Why is it used? What are the risks?Contrast, contrast agents, or contrast media is any internally administered substance that has a different opacity (e.g. stands out) from soft tissue on x-ray and CT exams. Contrast or contrast materials, such as barium or iodine, are often used to produce pictures of major blood vessels throughout the body.You should inform your physician of any medications you are taking and if you have any allergies, especially to barium or iodine contrast materials. If you have a history of allergy to x-ray contrast material, your radiologist or referring physician may advise that you take special medication for 24 hours before the exam to lessen the risk of allergic reaction. The risk of serious allergic reaction to contrast materials that contain iodine is extremely rare, and radiology departments are well-equipped to deal with them. Another option is to undergo a different exam that does not call for contrast material injection. Also inform your doctor about recent illnesses or other medical conditions.If you are breastfeeding at the time of the exam, you should ask your radiologist or referring physician how to proceed. It may help to pump breast milk ahead of time and keep it on hand for use after contrast material has cleared from your body, about 24 hours after the test. Contrast is not a form of radiation and it is not a dye.What is the radiation dose from interventional radiology procedures (catheter based such as cardiac cath, angiography, and angiograms)?Interventional radiologic procedures use diagnostic-type imaging equipment to assist a physician in the treatment of a patient's condition. These procedures frequently provide favorable medical results with minimal recovery time. In some cases these procedures avoid the need for conventional surgery or improve the prospects for a favorable outcome from surgery. Catheter based interventional procedures may exposure a patient to doses equal to or greater than CT scans depending on the complexity of the procedure. In very rare cases, a patient may have skin reddening or even skin damage as a result of the procedure.What is the radiation exposure from ultrasound and MRI?Diagnostic medical ultrasound is an imaging technique that uses high frequency sound waves to view soft tissues, such as muscles and internal organs. Ultrasound is not a source of ionizing radiation and no risk is known to exist for this type of imaging procedure.Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to obtain images. MRI procedures are not associated with exposure to ionizing radiation.What medical imaging procedures trigger radiation detectors, such as those used at the USA border with Canada?In nuclear medicine, a trace amount of radioactive material is administered to the patient, then scanners are used to image the radiation emitted from the patient. For most common nuclear medicine procedures (including PET), about 90% of the residual radioactive material is gone within 48 to 72 hours. If a patient crossed the border within 3 days of a nuclear medicine scan, then the residual trace amount of radiation may trigger the very sensitive radiation detectors used to monitor the vehicles. It is recommended that patients carry documentation that they have had a nuclear medicine procedure and appropriate contact information if they plan to cross the border soon after the scan.What is radon and what is the risk from exposure to radon?Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas found in soils, rock, and water throughout the U.S. Radon gas has been shown to cause lung cancer in uranium miners, and is considered a threat to public health by the Environmental Protection Agency because it can collect in homes, primarily in the basement. The EPA has set a recommended limit on the concentration of radon, which is 4 picocuries per liter of indoor air. Radon is the largest source of exposure to naturally occurring radiation.You cannot see, feel, smell, or taste radon. Testing your home is the only way to know if concentration of radon exceeds the recommended limits. The EPA recommends testing for radon in all rooms below the third floor.The National Radon Hotline: 800-767-7236


text:
Are Stanford students living in the clouds? Our recent Chromebook lending pilot at the Terman Engineering Library pointed out some interesting trends that involve the adoption of Google Apps and cloud computing/storage in general.
Google has become a work and social portal for students, offering an array of online services that include document storage and sharing, office applications, calendaring, social networking, and ebook storage (just to name a few), all accessible through standard web browsers. It was only a few years ago that most of these services were brought to us through desktop applications, requiring individual software applications, a computer on which to install them, and storage space for data. A web browser was just one of these applications. Since then, it has become the ultimate application – a platform for accessing computing power stored elsewhere on the web. It was just a matter of time before consumer computer hardware was specifically developed to focus on that web browser experience... and to no surprise one powerful example was brought to us by Google.
Chromebooks are low-cost, ultra-portable, secure, fast, "web-based" computing devices running ChromeOS, a complete operating system based on Google's own Chrome web browser. Beyond appliance computing terminals, these devices represent another step toward a cloud-computing paradigm, supported by the online tools and storage that Google itself provides. The shift of computing power to the cloud and the ongoing build-out of wireless networks allow for a vast reduction in computing power in the hands of the user. Think of how much computing can now be done with a simple smart phone nowadays. Companies have even started to adopt technology models that allow them to reduce the physical ownership of equipment, opting for a more nimble and scalable model with computing power stored in the cloud and purchased "as a service," with interesting payment and access options that include pay-as-you-go, cost per GB of data transfer, maximum bandwidth allowance, and open seats available, etc. Many companies have gone so far as to allow new employees to supply their own computers with the assumption that access to cloud resources can be for the most part system agnostic, and taking into consideration the massive cost savings in avoiding hardware and support costs (notwithstanding the unique security issues associated with this model). Back here at Stanford, we had an opportunity to see how far students have come in this move toward the cloud with our circulating Chromebook pilot.
For this pilot, the Terman Engineering Library purchased three Samsung Chromebooks for student lending, provided a cloud printing option in the Engineering Library, and asked that students fill out a survey when they returned the device. Our research interests included hardware shareability, staff technology support models, security, student adoption rate of Google apps, cloud printing and document storage. The devices could be checked out for 1 week and students were able to use their existing personal Google account or Stanford Google account to login. Once logged in, students could install new Chrome apps into their profiles. All profiles and data were wiped when the device was returned to the library.
The survey responses were generally positive and opinions were fairly consistent on the pros and cons of the devices. Nearly all of the respondents were regular users of Google Apps. For these users, the devices were seen as a cheap, lightweight option for portable access to Google apps and to the web in general. It was very clear from the responses that Chromebooks cannot currently replace primary computing devices such as laptops or desktops. Certain software just isn't yet available as a Chrome app or in an online version. Not many people tried cloud printing as the set up was admittedly difficult. Wi-fi or mobile data connection is required to access most applications, websites and online documents. While there is a limited ability to edit Google documents offline and save them to the local hard drive for later synching, internet access is really needed for Chromebooks to shine.
Demand for the devices was high. Students tended to keep them for the entire week, and many immediately checked them out again upon return. As secondary computing devices, Chromebooks have clear potential. Whether the demand for this category of device comes at the expense of iPad/Tablet demand is an open question. The release of touchscreen Chromebooks makes it even more unclear how this niche fits into overall computer hardware market. What is clear is that Google continues to influence computing hardware, which is ultimately pulling more users into their digital ecosystem.
The Engineering Library intends to expand the program with the purchase of additional devices. We continue to be interested in ways to overcome the stated software limitations of these devices. While new Chrome apps are constantly released, experimenting with other solutions such as remote desktop and cloud desktop may be in order.
Survey data is available at Stanford Qualtrics.
Contact Michael Nack for more information.


text:
In a recent K=4 admixture experiment, I demonstrated that ADMIXTURE software produces an Amerindian ancestral component that closely tracks the signal of admixture using the D-statistic test. I have decided to make this test available for download and use with DIYDodecad.
The test has four ancestral populations:
- European
- Asian
- African
- Amerindian
For example, the Amerindian component of this test may indicate (i) real recent Native American ancestry, (ii) East Eurasian ancestry found in Siberia and East Asia, (iii) the common signal of admixture differentiating most European groups from Sardinians and Near Eastern Caucasoid groups. Similarly, the Asian component may indicate Australasian, South Asian, or East Eurasian ancestry. And, the European component tracks the ancestry of individuals from West Eurasia in general, although it reaches is maximum in Sardinians.
This test may, however, be useful to Old World individuals who want to get an idea about the signal of admixture discovered by Patterson et al., so I decided to make it available. For individuals who don't suspect recent Amerindian or Siberian/East Asian ancestry, and who don't belong to populations with recent such ancestry, the Amerindian component will most likely represent the aforementioned signal.
You need to extract the contents of the RAR file to the working directory of DIYDodecad. You use it by following exactly the instructions of the DIYDodecad README, but always type 'globe4' instead of 'dv3' in these instructions. You can consult the spreadsheet for proportions of the 4 components in different world populations.
Terms of use: 'globe4', including all files in the downloaded RAR file is free for non-commercial personal use. Commercial uses are forbidden. Contact me for non-personal uses of the calculator.


text:
- ESC/POS Command for TM Printer
- Character Code Tables for TM Printer
- ESC/POS Command for Customer Displays
- Character Code Tables for Customer Displays
- Epson ePOS SDK for Android
- Epson ePOS SDK for iOS
- Epson ePOS SDK for JavaScript
- Epson ePOS SDK for Universal Windows apps
- ePOS-Device XML
- ePOS-Print XML
EPSON OPOS ADK Software
Version | Ver.2.66E |
Uploaded date | 2010/01/19 |
File size | 14,952KB |
Explanation | EPSON OPOS ADK Ver.2.66E
[Support Model] Support Models List.pdf [Support OS] -Windows 2000 Professional SP4 English Edition -Windows XP Professional SP3 English Edition (32bit) -Windows Vista Business/Ultimate/Enterprise SP2 English Edition (32bit/64bit) -Windows 7 Professional/Ultimate/Enterprise English Edition (32bit/64bit) -Windows Server 2008 Standard/Enterprise/Datacenter SP2 English Edition (32bit/64bit) -Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard/Enterprise/Datacenter English Edition -Windows Embedded for Point of Service -Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 -Windows Embedded Standard 2009 (Full component) [Changes from Ver.2.65E SP3] Supports the following OS: -Windows 7 -Windows Server 2008 -Windows Server 2008 R2 -Windows Embedded Standard 2009 The TMUSB device driver is changed from 4.00c to 5.10a. Phenomenon correction for that: The following ErrorEvent is notified at the time of print/reading the check. ResultCode: Offline(106) [More Information] See the "Release Note" file for other detailed information. Release Note [How to install] Execute "ADK266E.exe" to extract install files. After execution, setup files will be copied to "C:\OPOSADK\V266E\disk1", which is default folder. Please execute "setup.exe" in that folder to start installation. Installation guide is "Installer.pdf" in the same folder. Please install the SP version after installing the base version when you install the SP version. |
Notes on downloading
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Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom. —Song of Solomon 2:15
When these things are present in my life, I have discovered that God's special presence is absent:
* Self-pity. Feeling sorry for myself always seems right at first, but I should never give in to it if I cherish the presence of the Dove.
* Self-righteousness. This is the identical twin of self-pity. I reflect on my obedience and imagine that God is giving me a little pat on the back.
* Defensiveness. This is not merely being "touchy"; it is the natural instinct to resist any criticisms. It is the opposite of turning the other cheek (Matt. 5:39).
* Seeking a compliment. "Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips" (Prov. 27:2).
* Listening to gossip. I am not sure which is worse—telling another "the latest" or listening to it. It is hard not to listen, especially if it is delicious, bad news about someone I find threatening.
* Talking too much. "When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise" (Prov. 10:19). John Wesley often said that for every hour we spend talking, we should spend two hours in prayer!
* Rushing. Getting in a hurry almost always moves me ahead of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not in a hurry.
* Pointing the finger. "Do not judge, or you too will be judged" (Matt. 7:1). Pointing the finger in judgment invariably includes keeping a record of wrongs—which the Bible advises us not to do (1 Cor. 13:5). Doing so will result in the departure of the Spirit's special presence.
When I come to terms honestly with the absence of God's special presence, I am more likely to be in a position to find Him.
Excerpted from The Sensitivity of the Spirit (Charisma House, 2002).


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First and foremost, the report expresses doubts that deadline for the migration to Sepa in the eurozone will be met by the February 1 2014 deadline.
On the innovation front, the report underlines the growing importance of "payments acquisitions" as a result of "the need to address new and changing customer demands, the convergence of channels, and the entry into the space of nonbank players."
Noncash payments have grown by a resilient 6.4% on average in North America and 4.2% in Europe in the last two years. However, this is mild in comparison to that seen in emerging Asia—which saw growth of 22.1%. Overall developed markets saw noncash payments grow just 6.2% while emerging markets as a whole averaged 18.7% growth. Nonetheless, the report forecasts that it will take developing markets at least 10 years to overtake mature markets in volume terms.
Industry estimates suggest mobile and electronic payments will grow respectively by 58.5% and 18.1% annually through 2014, reaching a total of 28.9 billion and 34.3 billion transactions, respectively. Increased penetration of smart phones and the Internet, thanks to technology advances and innovative product launches, have made this an important area of business for banks and nonbanks, but the reports warns on excessive optimism on global m-payments volumes.
At the same time, new instruments in the payment industry have created opportunities but also increased opacity in the global payments markets, with potential overlap between e- and m-payments.
Teresa Connors, head of client engagement, transaction services market engagement, RBS International Banking, specifies that: "In the WPR we define m-payments as a form of payment where the mobile phone is used as a payment method—not just as an alternative channel to send the payment instruction—and the payment information flow takes place in real-time."
The meteoric rise in mobile payments has created a potential "black hole" in statistical data due to inconsistent reporting and lack of a common definition of this payment type, and this means that it is difficult to make strategic decisions. As a result, Connors adds, "the estimates on the size of the mobile payments [market], on a volume gap basis, could be as wide as 50%."
The number of mobile payment users worldwide is expected to surpass 212 million in 2012, a 32% increase from 2011, the global m-payments value reached $256 billion in 2012. It is expected to grow three-fold by 2014 to a total of $796 billion.
For corporates, the report suggests that there is "no real appetite" at the moment to make mobile payments at the commercial rather than consumer level, but the accent is rather on the convergence of payments mechanisms, on the impact of new regulations like Sepa. They are focused not so much on the technical side of innovation, but on "on-time" and "cheap" payments delivery.


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Diversifying Your Finances and Your Life
- Cliff Young Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer
- Updated May 21, 2012
If you have a financial advisor or have watched any business program, you have undoubtedly heard the term diversification. The premise behind diversification in the financial world is to have your money in several different types of investments (i.e. real estate, precious metals, the market, etc.) or areas within the market (i.e. stocks, bonds, international, FOREX, etc.) to reduce your risk and exposure to any one major decline.
Jim Cramer, the host of Mad Money on CNBC, even has a segment of his show called, "Are You Diversified?" where guests call in with the companies they have stock in to determine if they are diversified with their investments.
Diversification not only has its merits for us financially, but also personally.
For instance, in the current recession we have been facing, many have found themselves out of work and realized the skill set they had been trained with is no longer applicable to the current needs of what the workforce requires. As a result, some are finding it difficult to locate another job similar to what they were accustomed.
Likewise, others who have been slow to learn the latest in technology, social networking and methods of communication are finding it difficult to keep up with the speed of information and have fallen behind where the world is headed.
So how can this help us as singles?
Before we face a similar situation in other areas of our lives, we have a magnificent opportunity to diversify ourselves and learn to better adapt to our situations.
Many of us have gotten into the habit of doing (or not doing) the same thing over and over again and expecting (or hoping for) different results along the way. Albert Einstein has described this as (the definition of) insanity.
We've lived in the same house since child birth, attended the same church since baptism, worked the same job since graduation, taken part in the same activities, talked to the same handful of people, procrastinated over the same projects (or "calling") and maintained the same thoughts—and we wonder why (whatever we desire) hasn't happened yet.
Diversify Your Thinking
What immediately comes to mind when you hear the phrase "Jesus turned water into wine" (John 2:1-11)?
It was his first miracle.
It couldn't have been "real" wine. Even if it was, the Bible doesn't say he actually drank it. Wine is evil!
He was so rude to his mother.
How did he do it?
Great! If Jesus made it, I can drink it!
Wow, lucky for the bride's parents who were footing the bill for the wedding.
There are probably many other thoughts, just as real and just as diverse. The point is, none of these responses is solely right while the others completely wrong, yet many of us hold so tightly to our one (often stubborn) opinion, we don't allow consideration of another option or another person's observation as a viable alternative. (Refer to our U.S. Congress.)
I have "discovered" there are several ways to perceive a situation, address a problem and find a solution, and I need to broaden my perspective and consider all possibilities, not just succumb to my own innate way of thinking.
Diversify by Doing Something
Jesus had a distinct purpose for his life, knew what it was and worked toward it each and every day on earth. However, if he never left home, approached a stranger nor opened his mouth, his message would not have been heard.
Many of us "want, hope and wish" to achieve something incredible with our lives, yet we don't pursue our calling, allow others to discourage us and don't take action. We may have the greatest of intentions, but intentions alone have never accomplished anything.
No one would remember the Good Samaritan if he'd only had good intentions. — Margaret Thatcher
Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead (James 2:17).
Hopes or wishes not accompanied by action are nothing but dreams. What dreams have you not yet accomplished? Either go after it or reassess what your calling may be. Don't only consider those things you "think" you can achieve; go well beyond that to things you can't even imagine possible.
Diversify by Receiving a New Direction
Over the years, I, like many, have experienced some (what seemed to be at the time) traumatic experiences—loss of jobs, relocations, broken relationships, friends who moved away, deaths, etc.
I used to respond to those events by burrowing away, working harder to keep it from occurring again or trying to ignore it altogether. However, I now see those unforeseen changes as a chance for growth. I accept them as an opportunity to move me away from what I was doing or accustomed to doing.
I see them now as my "Jonah moments."
Those who cling to worthless idols (like "our own ways") forfeit the grace that could be theirs (Jonah 2:8).
Oftentimes when we don't take the initiative to move, change or broaden our lives according to the way we know we should, God has the tendency to do it for us.
Diversify by Living Outside of the Box
In the same way not diversifying our investments can harm us financially, not diversifying how we think, what we do and how we do it limits our potential and ways God can use us. If we're setting (self-made) parameters on how we operate and what we can accomplish, we won't ever reach the pinnacle God has created us for.
Have you been able to "predict" what God was going to do in your life? Have you ever experienced something so unique, so unexpected it could have only come from and been achieved by God?
I have determined God does not think like I do nor works "in a box."
Jesus didn't go along with the crowd, worry about their approval nor allowed others to dictate who he was, what he did or when he did it.
And neither should we.
It's time we diversify our thoughts, think creatively about our calling, allow God to set our direction, live outside our box and take action.
It won't only change our perspective, but also our life and our relationships.
Cliff Young is a contributing writer to Sandlot Stories (ARose Books), as well as the monthly column, "He Said-She Said," in Crosswalk.com's Singles Channel. An architect and former youth worker, he now works with Christian musicians and consults for a number of Christian ministries. Got feedback? Send your comments and questions to firstname.lastname@example.com.


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The General Has Spoken - GMs Latest Trucks
A look at the all-new 2014 GM Half-Ton Pickups
It has been seven years since General Motors redesigned its Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra ½-ton pickups and a lot has changed in the light-truck market during that time. Customers have a new list of demands including more functionality, comfort, and power. Oh, and with higher fuel prices, improved fuel economy. With that said, there was much speculation on how GM would respond with the new-for-2014 ½-ton trucks. Well, people aren't speculating any longer because the General has spoken with vastly redesigned trucks that the company feels delivers the things buyers want.
We recently had the opportunity to travel to Detroit, Michigan, for an advanced look at the 2014 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra ½-ton trucks. We weren't allowed to drive the prototype vehicles, but we did get to inspect them and talk to the engineers that designed and tested 'em. We're told that these vehicles only carry over approximately 25 percent parts content from the previous generation trucks. So quite simply, just about everything you see is new.
We're told that we should be able to get seat time in the vehicles in the spring, so naturally we'll be bringing you our driving impressions shortly. In the meantime, here are some of the highlights of GMs latest and greatest.
There are exterior differences between the Silverado and the Sierra, but overall they have many basic commonalities. For example, both are designed with significant attention to aerodynamics. GM has integrated things like a roof spoiler, tailgate spoiler, special taillight lenses, more windshield rake, and even chassis-mounted items that improve airflow over and under the truck. The end result is a coefficient of drag that is five percent lower than current models. Naturally, this helps to improve fuel mileage. The new front ends are engineered to improve sealing for more efficient cooling and the inlaid doors that fit into recesses in the bodysides reduce wind noise for a quieter cab. The cab is stronger, with nearly two-thirds of the structure made from high-strength steel. The rear doors on Crew Cab models are larger and when combined with several other changes the result is easier entry and exit and a two-inch increase in rear legroom. Extended cab doors are now hinged at the front to make it easier to enter the rear seat in tight parking spaces. The cab is mated to a reengineered frame (made from hydroformed high-strength steel) using new shear-style body mounts that tune out both up-and-down and side-to-side movements for a quieter, more comfortable ride. Extended and Crew Cab models have a third set of hydraulic body mounts to further isolate the cab. Other exterior features include a roll-formed steel cargo box available in 5-foot, 8-inch; 6-foot, 6-inch; or 8-foot lengths (depending on model). For the first time a 5-foot, 8-inch or 6-foot, 6-inch box is available on Crew Cab models. These cargo boxes have available new upper tie downs (moveable and rated at 500 pounds each), under-bedrail LED lighting, and an EZ Lift and Lower tailgate (uses an integrated torsion bar to make lifting easier and a rotary damper that allows for controlled and quiet lowering). A new CornerStep rear bumper works in conjunction with built-in hand grip pockets in the new bedrail protectors to make it easier to step up into the bed whether the tailgate is up or down. Finally, all trim packages get new-design wheels.
The new Silverado and Sierra will be available with either a new 4.3L V-6, 5.3L V-8, or 6.2 L V-8 gasoline engine. This trio is referred to as the EcoTec3 family of engines. All of these engines use aluminum blocks and heads and are equipped with direct injection, cylinder deactivation (ability to run in four-cylinder mode), and continuously variable valve timing. GM says that this combination of advanced technologies is not found on other competitors' trucks and they point out that you get GMs latest technology on even the base 4.3L V-6 engine. One of the engines many features is a design that mounts the fuel pump under the intake manifold to reduce noise. GM says the new engines feature improved power, torque, and fuel efficiency. SAE-certified horsepower and torque ratings and EPA fuel economy estimates weren't available at press time.
All three engines are paired with the Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic transmission that has refined calibrations and algorithms to match up with the power curves of the new engines. The transmission features Auto Grade Braking, which downshifts on downgrades to help reduce brake wear. The 6L80 also includes a new torque converter that features a quicker lockup of the clutch. As found in the '13 Silverado, the 6L80 has a new output carrier ring gear that reduces mass by about 2 pounds.
Transfer Case
One transfer case serves all applications and it's an NV246 two-speed unit with 2WD, Auto, 4-Hi, and 4-Lo settings. It's shifted electronically via a dash-mounted rotary switch to the left of the driver. This transfer case is the type of unit used in the previous generation GM ½-ton trucks, but for the 2014 GM ½-ton trucks it has a new controller and some software enhancements for control.
Rear Axles
New this year, there's a different rear axle for each of the three engines. Trucks equipped with the 4.3L V-6 are fitted with the 8.6-inch rear axle. Vehicles equipped with the 5.3L V-8 get a redesigned 9.5-inch axle, which among other things has had its mass reduced by about 22 pounds in part through higher strength but lighter weight steel. Trucks equipped with the 6.2L V-8 are fitted with a new 9.76-inch rear axle. All of these axles are available with an rpm-sensing automatic locking rear differential. It's also important to note that all of these axles are now fitted with disc brakes that use Duralife rotors. These rotors have a hardened and strengthened surface that resist rusting, potentially doubling the life of the rotors and improving vehicle appearance.
Front Axle
Located up front is an 8.25-inch axle, which is the same type of unit found in the previous generation trucks. Its enhancements include a new actuator to engage the passenger-side axleshaft.
Up front, the new trucks continue to use a coil-over-shock IFS setup with aluminum upper and lower control arms (on some models) that are both lighter and stiffer than those found on the previous generation trucks. The front springs are also 30 percent stiffer than those found on the previous generation trucks and among other things this helps improve the new trucks braking distance. Out back, the trucks continue to use two-stage multi-leaf springs and the bushings have been revised for an improved ride. The twin-tube front and rear shocks have new valving to improve damping at low speeds. Now is also a good time to note that both trucks use new all-electric, variable-assist power steering. Eliminating the engine-driven pump reduces fuel consumption and eliminates the maintenance associated with hydraulic power steering.
GM says that the new interior was designed to be quieter, roomier, more comfortable, and more functional. Important controls are located close to the driver and grouped functionally. GM made an effort to keep the instrument panel simple. Knobs, buttons and interfaces are large, easy to read, and easy to operate, even with gloves on. The sheer amount of interior storage is impressive, and includes some clever in-door cavities. There are also multiple USB ports, along with 12- and 110-volt power outlets. The material used for the cloth seats is a new high-wear product that is more durable and easy to clean. If you live in a cold climate you'll be pleased to know that there is now a heated seat option for cloth seating. The base 40/20/40 front seats utilize a flip-down console/armrest, while the optional bucket seats feature a full console.
Of particular interest to those of us who travel off-road is the Z71 package that's available on the Silverado (it's called All-Terrain on the Sierra). The package includes the automatic locking rear differential, front tow hooks, a transfer case skidplate and unique wheels and tires. New for 2014, these two packages will include monotube Rancho shock absorbers and Hill Descent Control, which uses the anti-lock braking system to enable smooth and controlled descent in rough terrain.
Bottom Line
It's pretty clear that GM did its homework on the new ½-ton trucks. After spending a few hours crawling over and under them we left impressed by GMs efforts. We're excited at the prospect of getting behind the wheel to see how all of the features work together.
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Mist wallpapers
When I took pictures of the overwhelming mist, it became obvious such minimalist image have a great potential for effective wallpapers: they are simple and won't stand on your way. So here are some for anyone want to use them. Enjoy and don't let their mod depress you :)


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Doubt greets IMF bailout offers
| Bangkok, Thailand
As the global credit crunch bites hard, the list of countries seeking emergency aid from the International Monetary Fund grows ever longer: Hungary, Ukraine, Iceland. This scramble for funds has raised questions over the size of the IMF's war chest for further bailouts as more developing countries run short of hard currency.
The IMF says it has $200 billion in reserves and can tap an additional $50 billion credit line. At last weekend's G-20 summit in Washington, billed as an effort to recast global financial institutions for a new era, calls for a topping-off largely fell on deaf ears, with only Japan pledging an additional $100 billion.
IMF officials have warned that the latest loan package for Iceland, finalized Wednesday, won't be the last in what it calls a deep global crisis.
More money will likely be found, says Edwin Truman, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington. "In the end, they will get the money. The [global financial] system will not let the fund run out of money," he says.
[An IMF spokesperson in Tokyo declined to comment on funding commitments.]
A thornier question is who puts in new money and what that means for an institution closely associated with Western powers. Just as the G-20 gathering represented a shift in the global financial order, a more inclusive IMF would have to make room for rising economies like China and Brazil. Its current board is dominated by the US, Japan, and European creditors.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said last week that countries sitting on surpluses, including oil-rich Gulf nations, should contribute more to the IMF. But Saudi Arabia publicly rejected the argument. Chinese President Hu Jintao also demurred, saying China's main contribution to financial stability is to prime its economy as an engine of global growth.
Behind the scenes is a tussle over how the IMF, World Bank, and other institutions are managed. "Realistically, in order to go much further [in IMF reforms], those countries who would contribute more would want a bigger say in running the institution," says Brad Setser, a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.
With the exception of troubled Pakistan, until now there have been no takers in Asia for an IMF bailout, despite warning signals in financial markets. In recent days, leaders in Indonesia and South Korea, which are struggling to prop up their currencies and restore confidence, have both explicitly ruled out going to the IMF for help – the idea carries bitter memories of the Asian financial crisis in 1997-98 that many policymakers believe was worsened by bad economic advice from the IMF.
The legacy of that period has been more conservative borrowing by most Asian countries and a dramatic buildup in foreign reserves as a backstop against a repeat. Some policymakers in Asia have sought to pool these resources to ward off any credit crunch in the region.
For its part, the IMF has quietly softened its approach by offering loans with fewer strings. Borrowers have long chafed over the laundry list of demands put forward under IMF programs, including cuts in social spending and tight monetary policies. While such conventional programs are being rolled out in Hungary and elsewhere, countries can now also apply for a short-term credit line that has far fewer rules, known as conditionality.
This might help sell the program to countries in Asia facing liquidity problems, says Charles Adams, a professor at the National University of Singapore and former IMF assistant director for Asia. "There's an implicit recognition that conditionality during the Asian crisis was too tough. So the IMF is trying to make itself more attractive."
So far, that's not working. For Indonesia, an IMF rescue could be deeply unpopular ahead of next year's national elections. As in Thailand and South Korea, nationalist leaders made political capital out of repaying IMF loans ahead of schedule and declaring that sovereignty had been restored.
Indonesia is in much better financial shape than it was a decade ago, but that hasn't stopped its currency, the rupiah, from skidding to a 10-year low. The central bank's foreign reserves dropped last month to $51 billion, down from $57 billion a month earlier. A weak currency hurts imports of basic goods, though it raises returns from exports of Indonesia's natural resources.
A history of botched currency devaluations makes Indonesians nervous about keeping money in rupiah, says Roland Haas, director of HB Capital, an investment fund in Jakarta. "When they see the rupiah tank, the natural inclination is to go long on dollars … but I don't see any need for a drastic [international] rescue at the moment," he says.
South Korea has run short of dollars, despite currency swaps with the US Federal Reserve and similar arrangements with Japan and China. The weakness of the won is due to offshore borrowing by local banks and has been exacerbated by inept leadership, says Tony Mitchell, managing director of the Korea Associates Business Consultancy in Seoul.
Before the crisis, South Korea had the world's fifth-largest foreign reserves. The fact that the war chest – and a highly industrialized economy – didn't prevent a run on its currency shows the limitations of such a strategy, which is inefficient and leads to huge imbalances between creditor and debtor nations, says Mr. Setser.
"If a broader set of countries could rely on trusted counterparties or a multinational agency like the IMF in a crisis, we wouldn't have a world where countries are holding 20 or 30 or 40 percent of their GDP in reserves," he says.


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Gravity defying spider feet inspire materials scientists, as reported in ScienceNOW 23 April 2004.
Andrew Martin, a specialist in biomechanics, and colleagues at the Institute for Technical Zoology and Bionics, Bremen, Germany have studied spider feet to find out how spiders can walk upside down. As they suspected the spiders have tiny hairs on their feet that can grip onto any surface they are moving over using van der Waals forces a type of electrostatic attraction between atoms.
The scientists then measured the adhesive force exerted by the spider hairs on a probe. They then calculated that the feet of a small jumping spider named Evarcha acuata could potentially support 173 times its own body weight if all the tiny hairs on its eight legs were attached to the ceiling. This may seem like gross over engineering, but spiders rarely sit with all eight legs firmly attached to the ceiling.
The research was originally published in a journal named Smart Materials and Structures 19 April 2004. Scientists are hoping to develop adhesives that use the same principles as the spider foot hairs. These would have the advantage of being able to work in all weather conditions and even in outer space.
Editorial Comment: As its name suggests the journal named Smart Materials and Structures is full of articles about high tech materials and structures designed by clever engineers and materials scientists, i.e. it recognises creative design and gives credit where it is due. If adhesives that work like spider feet are eventually designed by scientists, the journal will give them the credit. We challenge this journal to acknowledge that spider feet were created by a smarter Engineer, who deserves more credit because He didn't need to copy from someone else's work.
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Almost two thirds of the housing units being built by the B.C. government at present are behind schedule, but the housing minister doesn't appear too concerned.
According to a report from BC Housing, about 13,000 of the 114,000 units promised by the BC NDP during the 2017 election were reported to be underway, in various stages of development, as of June 30.
But roughly 37 per cent of those units have been delayed by more than six months, while 22 per cent are running behind because of scheduling adjustments, according to a first quarter update in the Affordable Housing Investment Plan Report. The remaining units are either on track or ahead of schedule.
ALSO READ: B.C. on track for housing plan, minister tells local governments
The units include affordable rental housing, co-op housing, low-income housing, Indigenous housing and transition housing for women fleeing violence.
Roughly 2,200 units were complete by the end of June. Two thirds of those, or 1,400, are to house homeless people following the decampment of tent cities in the Lower Mainland.
Only 71 of the completed units are affordable rental housing.
The BC Liberals took the government to task over the shortfall during Question Period on Thursday.
"It's becoming abundantly clear to British Columbians that the housing minister is failing miserably to deliver on the 114,000 new units of housing commitment that has been made by her premier," said housing critic Todd Stone, the MLA for Kamloops–South Thompson.
"No money. Lots of photo-ops, lots of announcements, lots of flourishing rhetoric, but over half these projects have no funding attached to them."
North Vancouver-Seymour MLA Jane Thornwaite criticized the slow pace of Robinson's ministry to open the units.
"At this rate, it's going to take 100 years for you to fulfill your campaign promises," she said.
Housing Minister Selina Robinson argued her ministry is in fact delivering, with a more up-to-date tally of 22,000 units underway as of Aug. 30 and that she's proud of the work by her team.
"[The Liberals] wouldn't understand that it takes several months — in fact, a couple of years — to actually get them completed," she said.
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Green Valley Drugs Announces Voluntary Nationwide Recall Of All Lots Of All Sterile Products Compounded, Repackaged, And Distributed By Green Valley Drugs Due To Quality Control Concerns
HENDERSON, Nev., April 10, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Green Valley Drugs is voluntarily recalling All Lots of All Sterile products compounded, repackaged, and distributed by the pharmacy due to lack of sterility assurance and concerns associated with the quality control processes. A full list of the recalled products is attached to this press release and can be accessed at greenvalleymed.com. The recall of sterile products is conducted based on observations of clean room personnel and certain aseptic techniques.
Green Valley has received no reports of injury or illness associated with the use of our sterile products. In addition, we have received no indications of endotoxins or sterility issues from independent outside testing laboratories associated with any of the products subject to this recall. Out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of our patients, Green Valley Drugs has decided to voluntarily proceed with this recall process.
In the event a sterile product is compromised patients are at risk for serious and possible life threatening infections.
Green Valley Drugs sterile products covered under this recall were distributed nationwide. Until further notice, health care providers should stop using all lots of sterile products and return them to the company.
Consumers or Health Care providers with questions regarding this recall may contact Green Valley Drugs by phone at 702-564-2079 or e-mail address at [email protected]; Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 am to 5 pm PDT. Patients who have received any product distributed by Green Valley Drugs and have concerns should contact their healthcare provider.
Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax.
Online: www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm
Regular Mail: use postage-paid, pre-addressed Form FDA 3500 available at: www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm Mail to address on the pre-addressed form.
Fax: 1-800-FDA-0178
This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
SOURCE Green Valley Drugs


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More official images are in for the coming Yeezy influx for February 2017. While we're only a week away from the adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Black Red, today we get a detailed look at the coming Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Zebra, nicknamed for its unique white and black striped Primeknit upper that contrasts the vibrant red 'SPLY-350' side panel branding.
The Yeezy V2 Zebra is slated to release at global retailers on February 25th, 2017 for $220 USD and marks the second Yeezy Boost release of 2017. The swirling array of Primeknit stripes are accented by an updated heel tab, a slip-on upper, and a white side panel stripe while a TPU midsole covers the Boost cushioning system throughout.
What do you think of these Zebra Yeezys? Check out more official photos below and stay tuned for more of the latest Release Date updates right here on Sneaker News.
Source: theyeezymafia
adidas Yeezy Boost 350 v2 "Zebra"
Release Date: February 25th, 2017
Color: FTWRWHT/CBLACK/RED
Style Code: CP9654


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T-Mobile offering free unlimited data refer-a-friend deal from next week
T-Mobile has responded to Sprint's "disruptive" offer with its very own offer for any T-Mobile Simple Choice customer and their friends on other carriers. In short, if a T-Mobile customer "throws a lifeline" to a Sprint, AT&T or Verizon customer, both will get 12 months of unlimited data free of charge. It's a pretty amazing offer: Starting next week, whenever a T-Mobile Simple … [read full article]


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Identity And Belonging In Humphries And Rose's 'Sacrifice'
Right from the start, Sam Humphries and Dalton Rose's Sacrifice is identifiable as a work of passion. It was self-published – a risky proposition in the direct market – and it was a story of personal importance to the author. Humphries has epilepsy, and Sacrifice is the story of a boy whose epilepsy isn't only a source of frustration and anguish, but also a superpower that propels him into an adventure at the zenith of the Aztec civilization – and perhaps also provides the ultimate key to his agency.
That's not the only source of passion evident in Sacrifice, though. The premise of the series – a suicidal Joy Division fanatic has a seizure that sends him back in time to before Cortés' invasion of the Aztecs – provides a venue for Humphries to spit fire over how profoundly outrageous and angering the perception and purported 'history' of the Aztecs is. As someone fascinated by and familiar with the truth about the Aztecs, Humphries uses the series' bedrock of time travel, violence, and destiny, to help readers take a step towards that truth.